Improvement in explosive shells



I. P. NOYES,

' Explosive ShelL. No, 52,314.

Patented Jan: 30, 1866.

2 v a C uw R. PETERS. PHOTO-LITMOGHAPMEIL WASHINGTON. n.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FEICE.

ISAAC P. NOYES, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,314, dated January30, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC P. NOYES, of Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Projectiles; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference bein ghadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon.

My invention consists in furnishing a projectile so constructed andarranged as to fire a charge of shot from its rear end, either while inflight or after it has reached its mark, and thus enable the gunner toreach the enemy, though he be protected by breast-works, ramparts, orbomb-proofs, and which, when used against bodies of the enemy in theopen field, will, by its rear discharge, inflict more injury than it hasalready done in its direct flight, as hereinafter more fnll y described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved projectile. Fig.2 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the same. Fig. 3 is arear-end view of the projectile. Fig. 4 is a sketch designed toillustrate the action of the projectile when discharged.

A is the main body of the projectile. B is the shot. 0 is the powder. Dis the fusevent. E is the plug.

The main body A of the projectile is chambered, as represented in thedrawings. The chamber or cavity which contains the powder and shotshould be of such a size and depth as to contain a sufficient charge forthe purpose intended, and yet not so large as to weaken the main body Aof the projectile, and

not so deep as to prevent the forward part of the projectile from beingthe heavier, and thus interfere with its directness of flight.

The plug E is made to fit into the bore or cavity for the charge, andhas a flange or shoulder over or onto the edges of the main body of theprojectile, as represented in the drawings. Said flange should notextend quite to the outer edge of said main body of the projectile, lestthe friction of its edges against the inner surface of the bore of thegun from which it is discharged might draw it from its position afterthe projectile has started and before it has left the muzzle of the gun.

The-plug E should fit into the body of the shell sufliciently tight tokeep it in place during the flight of the projectile, and yet so as tobe readily blown out by the explosion of the charge of powder 0.

To explode the powder 0, I prefer to use a fuse, as represented in thedrawings; but this is not absolutely necessary, as the charge might beexploded in any of the ways ordinarily practiced.

I claim A projectile which, with the effective properties of a directshot, possesses the additional one of being capable of discharging aload of shot from its rear end either during its flight or after it hasstruck, said projectile being constructed substantially as hereindescribed, and for the purposes set forth.

ISAAC 'P. NOYES.

Witnesses:

JOHN P. CAMPBELL, EDWIN NoRrHRoP.

